Kojima Productions has unveiled a fresh HideoTube episode where the renowned developer reveals that his association with Guillermo del Toro was pivotal in 'saving' his career. The studio, headed by Kojima, is currently engaged in at least three projects: Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, O.D., and a new espionage game referred to as Physint. Kojima delves into these new ventures, as well as his creative process and personal life, in the HideoTube episode.
Hideo Kojima and filmmaker Guillermo del Toro have collaborated since the era of P.T. and the abruptly scrapped Silent Hills. Despite not materializing their eerie horror title, they collaborated in Death Stranding, with del Toro lending his appearance to the character of Deadman. While it remains uncertain if del Toro will be involved in Death Stranding 2, it seems that the two creators maintained their friendship post the release of the initial game.
This companionship may have been instrumental in shaping the trajectory of Kojima's career. In the most recent HideoTube episode, Kojima discusses a challenging phase of his life when he fell ill in 2020. It led him to contemplate quitting game development, possibly pursuing filmmaking instead. Concurrently, Kojima felt torn, fearing that leaving Kojima Productions would lead to its collapse. When he confided in del Toro about this, the director advised him, 'Hideo, what you’re creating is already a movie. Keep moving forward as you are.' Kojima attributes these words to rescuing him and motivating him to pursue his diverse projects.
Guillermo del Toro's Impact on Kojima's Persistence in Game Development
Kojima's fondness for cinema is evident not only in his frequent collaborations with directors such as George Miller, del Toro, and Nicholas Winding Refn, but also in his overarching approach to cinematic storytelling in games. Many fans have pondered why Kojima hasn't ventured into filmmaking, considering his evident inspiration from the medium. Simultaneously, Kojima vocalizes his ambition to fuse film and gaming, portraying both Physint and O.D. as a fusion of both mediums. Hence, del Toro's encouraging remarks appear to have fueled his determination.
It seems that Kojima is not contemplating an exit from game development anytime soon. The unconventional and experimental Death Stranding 2, alongside O.D. and Physint, are poised to keep Kojima Productions occupied for the foreseeable future. Kojima enthusiasts may owe their anticipation to Guillermo del Toro.